a life
to come home to
suppose you might find things that
disappoint you, too: maybe a tattered
rug or paint peeling from the walls.
Either way, the move a little closer
was worth it. if you still like what
you see, it makes sense to move even
closer, getting a broader view with
every step.
Eventually you find yourself
standing in the doorway and you
have a good sense of the room now.
There are several large windows,
a wonderful collection of books
and pottery on some shelves in the
corner, and the perfect reading chair
next to one of the windows. it’s
everything you would hope to find.
The excitement grows and you want
to jump into the room, slam the door
behind you, and claim it as yours.
But you freeze: What if there’s a big
stain on the floor behind the chair?
or worse: What if there is a big, ugly
orange couch against the wall—
behind the door?
sharedprayer purpose community
What to do?
Benedictine Sisters
St. Mary Monastery
Rock Island, Illinois
www.smmsisters.org
Enter #152 at VocationMatch.com
The truth is that one can never be
entirely sure what will be in a room
until you walk all the way in and
shut the door behind you. Even then
time may reveal subtle imperfections or later additions to the room
that don’t suit you. There are things
you simply won’t and can’t know,
both about the room—the life you
are discerning, to break down the
metaphor—and, more important,
about yourself until you have made
a commitment to that place. you
cannot know for sure there won’t be
an ugly orange couch. on the other
hand, you also won’t know that there
isn’t a wonderful grand piano or
an exquisite Chinese vase that you
hadn’t seen before.
16
Enter #126 at VocationMatch.com
VISION 2013